Lifting fork



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,791

w. yv. WALLACE LIF'TI NG FORK Filed'Feb. 4. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec.6,'1927. 1,651,791

W. w. WALLACE LIFTNG- FORK Filed Feb. 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,ze 19 J8zz ,z

Dec. 6, 1927.

W. W. WALLACE LIFTING FORK Filed Feb., 4f., 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Wmllhm. NMIY hh Invair '02 ,6M

25 deliver the unit of 45 vention,

50 ation.

WILL W. WALLACE,

1 BLING COBYOBATION, OF NEW YORK, N.

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, essienoa 'ro New Yoan Barok Y., a CORPORATION or'Naw Yoan.

LETNG FORK.

v Application med February 1926. Serial No. 85,968.

My present invention relates to lifting devices and more particularly toan. improve loading and dumping fork for use in connection with themechanical handling of brick.

te In the handlinff of brick by mechanical means, it is desira le and,in fact, necessary that the bricks be handled in units, such units beinof any desired size. These units are usua ly built up after thepreliminary drying operation on the brick and are then brought by alifting fork into position where they are built into a kiln. The kiln isafterwards burnt and the completely burnt brick are removed from thekiln in units by aplitting device and carried to a truck, car, barge orany desired delivery device. With further improved methods ofmanufacturing brick,

v it has been found desirable to lift the unitv on afork and when theunit has been brought to the place of delivery, deposit same 1n positionand then remove the fork from beneath such unit, thereby depositing andleaving the unit in stacked ormation on the device. For this reason, alifting fork with lpivoted tines or equivalent device is not necessaryand therefore the lifting device may be made considerably more rigidthan has heretofore been possible. The units brick are built up upon socalled inger courses, between such lingerv courses the tines of thelifting fork are placed. ln former constructions, it was usual to leavethe finger courses in position and merely lift that portion of thebrickunit lying thereon.

This practically necessitated lthe dumping of brick o the fork when thesame was brought to the point of delivery.

In m present invention I have obviated the ObJectionable features ofprior apparatus of this t pe and the present invention is to be consiered as an improvement over the fork shown in my Patent No. 1,564,652,dated December 8, 1925. in my present in- I have shown improved meansfor gripping and holding the individual bricks. comprising the fingercourses and am thereby enabled to lit an entirev unit of brick, includinthe linger courses, at a single operhave devised any entire grippingmeans whereby the finger courses are positively held on yieldingtension, the tension depending upon the weight of the unit of br1ck sothat the greater the weight of the brick, the greater the tension on theholding means. y

The principal object of my invention, therefore, 1s an improved bricklifting fork. Another object of my invention is an improved bricklifting fork, having in combination therewith, means for gripping ngercourses .of a unit of brick.

A further object of: my inventionis an improyedbrick lifting fork,having in combination therewith, an improved means for yleldlnglyholding and gripping the iinger courses ofa unit of brick.

Other objects and knovel features of the construction and arrangement ofparts comprising my device will appear as'th'e description of theinvention progresses. ln the accompanying drawings illustratng thepreferred embodiment of my inven- Fig. 1 is apide elevation,

Fig. -2 is a rear elevation,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan elevation of a device showing the grippingfingers in operative position,

Fi ,4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 3 but withthe grippingfingers in inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentar sectional end elevation on the line 6-6 o Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view on theline 7--7 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a plan view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5, and l Fig. 9 is asectional elevation on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a base provlded on its lowerface with a longitudinal extending rib pro'ection 11 and se cured to thelower face by olts and nuts12 and 13 respectively are a plurality ofparallell. arranged lifting fingers 14, the upper sur ace of the rearend of each of these iingers being provided with a groove thatcooperates with a longitudinal rib 11 on the base 10. The rib and grooveprevent a rotarymovement of the ngers 14 with respect to the basel 10.The fingers 14 are spaced apart fromv each other a distance slightlygreater than the width of two bricks 15, as shown `in Figs. 3 and 4. Bypossible to slide thefmgers 14 between the this construction, it is tothe spring crosshead rows of brick 15,.such brick constituting thefinger courses of a unit of brick. Secured t0 the lower rear face of thebase 10 at intervals along the length thereof are bearings 16, thebearings being in alignment with each other and rotatably mounted in thebearings is a finger clamp shaft 17 Each of the bearing members 16 are'provided on their lower face with a shaft 18 on which is mounted forrotation an anti-friction wheel 19 to facilitate travel of the ap aratusalong the ground or other'place w ere the same is to be worked. Alsosecured to the shaft 17 at intervals alon its length are crank arms 20,the number o crank arms 20 being equal in number to the fingers 14attached to the base 10. .Pivotallyl attached to the lower free end ofeach of the crank arms 20 is one end of the member 21, this member onits free end being internall threaded to receive the externall such treaded end being provided with a lock. nut 23 for holding the member 21and finger rod 22 in adjusted position. The fingers 14 are hollow andthe finger rods 22 are slidably mounted therein, one finger rod 22 foreach finger 14. Secured to each of the finger rods 22 by pins 2`4, arecollars 25, these collars being arranged in pairs and between each pairand on the rod 22 is a `coiled spring 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.Adjacent to one of the collars 25 of each pair of collars i's a springcrosshead 27, each crosshead being provided with radially extending pins28. There are a plurality 25 on each r0d` 22 and therefore a pluralit ofspring crssheads 27 oii each rod 22. side wall of each of the lingers 14adjacent 27 is provided with a cut out portion 29, and pivotally mountedin each of the cut out portions 29 on pin 30 is a member 31, this memberon its inner end be ing provided vwith slotted ears 32, these earsencircling the pins 28 on each side of the spring crosshead 27. To theend of each of the members 31, designated as finger levers, arepivotally mounted finger clamps 33. When the rod 22 is moved to theleft, as

shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the pairs of collars 't lward 25 attachedthereto, move also to the left, as does the coiled spring 26. Thetension of the coiled spring 26 keeps the spring crosshead 27 inengagement with its associated collar 25 and the pins 28 thereonengaging with the ears 32 of the finger lever 31 rotate such fingerlevers in an anti-clockwise direction around the pin 30, therebybringing the finger clamps 33 outwardly laterally from the fingers 14and into engagement with the linger courses l5. The continued movementof the rod 22 to the left will cause the clamping fingers 33 to forcethe finger courses -15 into engagement with the adjacent finger/14, asclearly shown in Fig. 3, and as the movement of the rods 22 to the leftcontinues, the

y ditions the finger clamp'33 is yieldingly held threa ed end of afinger rod 22,

of pairs of collars -into such spring crosshead 27 will become separatedfrom its associated collar, as'shown in Fig. 8 and it will be obviousthat under these conagainst the finger courses 15 by the compres- 70sion spring 26. l Formed on the base l0, adjacent toeach end of theupper surface thereof are mem# bers 34. To each of the members 34v andon each side thereof, secured by bolts '7 and nuts 35 and 36respectively, are ver-v tical bars 37. These bars are secured at fil,their upper euds to the ends 4of a framework designated generally bythe numeral 38. Secured to the upper central portion of the base 10 arevertical braces 39 which extend forwardlymas shown in Fig. 2v and are,4secured to the framework 38, also to the inner -ones of thebars 37. Ateach end of the framework 38 and extending forwardly therefrom is amemberY 40. vIn each of these'4 members 40 is ,secured parallellyarranged shafts 41 and 42 and on these shafts are rotatably mountedthelevers 43 and 44 respectively. The innerends of the levers 43 and 44are connected together by means ofv apivotally mounted connecting link45 and also the inner ends are provided with abutting faces 46 and 47respectively which prevent too great a rotary movement of the levers 43and 44 in one direction. Each of the levers 43 are provided at theirlower rear ends with an elongated slot 48, in which is slidably mounteda pin 49 'and pivotally mounted on the pin 49 is a downwardly dependingmember 50. The lower free end of the member 50 is internally threaded toreceive the upper threaded end of a connecting rod 51, a. lock nut 52being provided on the connecting rod 51 for maintaining such connectingrod and member 50 in adjusted position. The lower end of each of theconnecting rods 51 is threaded and screws into the upper end of members53, a lock nut 54al being associated 'therewith for adjusting purposes.Each of the. members 53 is pivotally attached t0 the outer end of crankarms 541 secured to the shaft 17.

The rear ends of the levers 43 and the forends of the levers 44 areprovided with pivotally mounted shackles 54 with which are associatedshackles 55 pivotally mounted on a lifting platform 56, the shackles 54and 55, together with levers 43 and 44, constitutinga four pointsuspension means for the apparatus.

Formed integral with each of the levers 43' and extending upwardlyltherefrom on each side thereof, are 'members 58, these members beingspaced apart from each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 8 and provided ontheir front edges with grooves 59. Fitting grooves 59 are pins 60 formedon cup-shaped holding memside thereof and 13 llO opposite sides of a ber61. Formed on each acarrea extending forwardly therefrom are ears 62similar to the ears 58 above described, and on the rear edge of each ofthese'ears is formed a roove 63 which engages with pins 64, former? onopposite sides of a cup-shaped spring holding member 65.k The open endof each of the spring holding members 61 and 65 is located a compressionspring 66, this compression spring, as will be seen from an inspectionof Fig. 6, tending to rotate the levers 43 and 44 about their pivotpoints so as to move the outer free ends thereof downwardly and thus tocause a movement of the rods 22 to the right, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.In order to vary the tension of the springs 66, I have provided themembers 61 and 65 with adjustlng screws 67, the inner end of thesescrews engaging with .the

springs 66. The weight of the load on the fingers 14 is balanced by thetension springs 66.

The device, as above described, is applicable to the picking up andcarrying of a unit of brick by means for yieldingly engaging the fingercourses of such unit. It may happen that it will be desired to merely4lift a unit of brick without regard to the finger courses thereof and Ihave, therefore, provided means for locking the finger clamps 33 inenclosed or in the inoperative position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown secured to the top surfaceofthe frame 38, bearing standards and in these bearing members isrotatably mounted a shaftv 71. Secured to the rearf end of the shaft 71is a crank handle 72 and by means of which the shaft 71 may be rotated.Secured to the shaft 71, intermediate its ends, is a fiange 73 andextending laterally outward from said flange, diametrically with respectto each other, are crank pins 74. Pivotally connected to each of thecrank pins 74 are connecting rods 7 5, one of each of these connectingrods bein arranged on each side of the shaft 7l, as c early shown inFig, 2. The other ends of each of the connecting rods 75 are pivotallyattached to bars 76 slidably mounted in bearing members 77 secured tothe top surface of the frame 38. Each of the sliding bars 76 is providedat the end, remote from the connecting rods 7 5. with U-shaped endmembers 78 of a size adapted to fit between the cup-shaped springholding members 61 and 65. It is obvious, therefore, that if theU-shaped members 7 8 are placed `between the members 61 and 65, it willbe impossible for such members 61 and 65 to have any movement towardeach other, and therefore, the mem bers 61 and 65, being held immovable,the pins 60 and 63 will likewise be held immovable and the ears 58 and62, contacting with such pins 60 and 63, will prevent a rota movement ofthe levers 43 and 44 in suc material direction as to have the outer freeends thereof move upwardly. If there can be no upward movement of theouter free ends of the levers 43 and 44 there will "of course be noupward movement of the connecting rods 52 and therefore no movement tothe left of the rods 22, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8. Movement to theleft of the rods 22 being prevented, the finger clamps 33 will remain inthe' position shown in Fig. that is housed within the limits 14.Therefore, when the locking device just described is utilized, theapparatus may be utilized as a lifting fork to piek up and load on to ofthe fingers 14, as is the case of the lifting forks heretoforemanufactured.

It will be noted from an inspection of the drawings, and particularlyFig. 9, that the upper ortion of the fingers 14 is of considerab e lesswidth than the lower portionI of such fingers. There is considerableadvantage` to be obtained in making these fingers in this manner. As iswell known, when said machine grips the grip courses, it only gri s thebottom plart of the bricks and, there ore, pinches t ese bricks in sothat there is less room in between the rows of the fingers at the topthan there is in between the bottom rows of the grip ngers, and,therefore, when taking these brick out with the new fork, forming thesubject matter of the present invention, there will naturally be lessroom for the fingers to get in between the top of the brick courses thanthere is at the bottom of the brick courses.

While have necessarily shown the preferred embodiment of my inventionsomewhat in detail, it is to be understood vthat l may vary the size, ofarts comprising the device Within wide limits without departing from thespirit of thel invention.

Having thus described 'my invention, what l claim as new is:

1. An im roved lifting fork comprising a plurality o parallelly arrangedngers, piv-l otall mounted means for engaging material ocated betweensaid fingers, a rod slidably 4mounted in each finger and springs on eachrod cooperating with the material, and engaging means for yieldinglyholding said sition..

2. An improved lifting fork com rising a plurality of parallellyarranged ngers, means associated therewith for engaging material locatedbetween the fingers, rods slidably mounted in each nger, springs locatedon said rods, connecting means between said springs and the materialengaging means and means for moving said rods to move the springs intoposition to yieldshape and arrangement holding means in inoperativepoingly hold the material engaging means in l inoperative position.

3. An improved lifting fork comprising a laterally outward therefrom,

base, a plurality of parallelly arranged lifting lingersl securedthereto and extending material engaging means pivotally mounted insaidfingers, means for moving said fingers into engaging position withmaterial placed between the lingers and yieldingly holding the same ininoperative position andl suspension means for said base for moving saidrods and yieldingly holding rods in inoperative position. Y v

4. An improved lifting fork comprising a base, a plurality-of parallellyarranged lifting lingers secured thereto and extending laterally outwardtherefrom, said fingers bes.

area at their portion, ma-

greater crosssectional ing of portion than at the top bottoni lterialv'engaging means pivotally mounted in said lingers, vmeans formoving said lingersinto enga ing position with material placed between te fingers and yieldingly holding' the same in inoperative position andsuspen.

` such fin ers,

sion means for said base for moving said material engaging-meansintoinoperative position.

5. An improved lifting fork comprising n plurality of parallellyprovided with a longitudinally arranged passage extending throughout'the length thereof, means associated therewith forv enra ing materiallocated between the fingers and normally housed within the. limits of arod mounted in each passage and sli'able with relation to the fingers,springs located-on -said rods, connecting means between saidsprings andthe mate- \rial engaging means, and means for moving said rods to movethe springs into position to yieldingly hold the material engaging`means in inoperative position.

In'testiinony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. .y

WILLIAM W.. WALLACE.

arranged ngers, each 1

